Chapter 331: Many Nights

Lina's ears began to ring. Her eyes filled with tears of betrayal, her heart beating fast like drums in her chest, and the rug yanked from beneath her feet. She looked her grandfather dead in the eyes and saw the ghost of a man she knew.

'Grandpa,' a little Lina asked on his lap, young as she could be. 'Why can't I learn the same things as Mila?'

'My dear chatterbox, you are destined for much greater things than Mila. Your fate will not be that of a housewife, you are to be as free as the wind.'

Shackled with chains of marriage, was that what he was referring to? She had visions of his tender stroke on her hair, his aging fingers shabbily tying ribbons in her pigtails, and his gentle laughter when she curiously tugged at his white beard. Now, she looked the man who set her fate dead in the eye and could do nothing, but choke.

"Lina…"

Altan was attempting to get her attention. His hand was on her lower back, a place he seldom touched. His lips were beside her ear, whispering something that she couldn't be bothered to listen to.

Then, Lina was forced to her feet. He urged her to stand and said some gibberish she could barely hear. All she could focus on was Lawrence's stealth stare. He set her up for failure. He swore that Mila's training was for a wife. If not a wife, then what? What was Mila destined for?

"Lina, everyone is looking," Altan muttered, eyeing Mila but she was just as shell-shocked. 

"Let them look," Mila spat out.

Lina should've known. All along, the lessons Mila was taught about weren't the duties needed to be a good housewife. A spy. A weapon. A honeypot. She felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

"Liar," Lina whispered to herself. "Grandfather is a liar."

Lawrence secured Lina's safety, his favorite granddaughter, the one that grew up by his side. Due to her mother's failure to birth a son, Lina was sacrificed to Lawrence. Lina's mother hoped she could win back the patriarch's favor if Lina was beloved by the very man in power. But what of Mila? What of his oldest granddaughter?

Who was there to love Mila? Who was there to keep her safe? 

Lina finally realized why Lawerence turned a blind eye to Mila's affairs. Lawrence had long given up on her. Mila was a liability to Lina. Mila was a liability to everyone in the family, for she chose love over obedience. Love over the very thing that Lina was taught since birth—always obey.

"Come on, Lina," Altan said, forcing her to stand closer to him. She was like a rag doll. 

"We graciously accept this wedding, thank you grandfather," Altan spoke from beside her, forcing a smile and placing a hand on her upperback, forcing her into an obedient bow.

Lina could feel her head begin to spin. The room grew damp and hot. Servants lined every corner, bodyguards tucked behind large flower pots, and relatives gazing at them resembling hawks.

Lina wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. Her fate was tied by Altan. Her freedom. Her future. Her dream. This wasn't the life she dreamed of. This wasn't what she wanted.

Altan began to speak again. "Lina—"

"Lina!" Mila shouted.

Lina didn't realize she was running until her ankles throbbed. The air was knocked out of her lungs. Her hair flew behind her, hairpins cascading to the ground, her heels thundering on the porcelain tiles. She felt the bitter wind of the night nip at her skin. She ran for god knows how long. Her chest banged for air. She tasted blood in her throat. 

Lina ran—and ran, and ran. She could no longer feel her toes. She could no longer see infront of her. She cried for goodness knows how long. She couldn't stop the betrayal, the hatred, and the disbelief. She ran all the way to the only place she knew.

Belle Night.

Lina had only been here once, but her body knew. Her gut instinct told her this place was safe. It was in Yang territory, but Belle was here. Belle was willing to lend an open ear. Belle could offer her advice. 

Huffing and panting, Lina could feel tens of eyes on her. People were waiting impatiently in line to enter the club. Chatter softly died down in her presence. People gawked at her disheveled appearance; hair wild as the night, clothes wrinkled from the intensity of her running, and her heels scraped by the pavement.

"Ma'am, your identification—"

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"Let her through."

Lina's body jolted at the voice. Cruel as the blade he carried, cold as the gun in his waist belt, and deep as the color of his black uniform. His intense gaze raked her from head to toe. It focused on nothing, but her tear-filled eyes. She was certain mascara was running down her face by now.

"C-Commander."

Lina's heart was beating a tattoo in her chest. She couldn't even catch her breath. But the second she saw him, nothing else mattered. She had met him for less than a day, but was willing to give her entire life to him. When he stopped in front of her, she could feel her ears begin to return to normal. 

He grabbed her waist. His hand was large and cupped it effortlessly. With his broad shoulders, he hid her from plain view. The people could only see his huge back, protecting her from suspicious gazes.

"Dove."

Such an affectionate nickname, what for?

"Commander," Lina sobbed, her legs giving out underneath her.

Kaden caught her. He always seemed to. She collapsed against his chest, gripping his uniform tightly. His entire body stilled at her behavior. Was it seduction? Was this her tactic? Was this what she was known for?

Yet, when Lina peered up at him with her large eyes, all hesitation washed away. Her eyes reflected the twinkle of Belle Night's flashy signs. Her lips were redder than the blood he spilled.

"Come, dove."

Kaden guided her straight into the club. A young heiress like her could not be seen entering a hotel with a strange man. Her reputation would be irreparable. Instead, he took her through the club filled with soft jazz music and the singer's siren voice. She stumbled, but caught her footing.

"Careful, dove."

Dove this. Dove that.

Lina liked 'dove of mine' better. She knew she was out of her mind. She knew her family would've sent guards after her. They must've been chasing her, even now. Altan would lose face [1]. Her grandfather would be beyond furious. Her parents would chide her, but she decided none of this was of any importance. Not now, at the least. Not when Kaden was here.

"I want a drink," Lina said.

"I'll purchase the entire bar then," Kaden responded.

"A heavy liquor," she added.

"The strongest they have," he agreed.

"And I want it with ice," she instructed.

"On the rocks," he explained.

"And I want you for the night."

Kaden came to a halt. Every fiber in his body roared back to life. Amidst the soft hue of the club, Lina was enchanting. Everyone had their eyes glued to her. A dazzling beauty like her could never be forgotten or ignored. 

Lina was a sight to behold, the dream of every man, and the inspiration behind every trend. She was his daydream and his nightmare. She was all that he cared for, and she didn't even know it. She was Lina, his darling dove in a cage.

"You shall have me for the night then—including the many ones after that, dove of mine."

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